Pithy one-liners, seat-gripping car chases, and perfectly pressed tuxedos – like a good vesper martini, some key ingredients make the perfect Bond movie. But the best bit about a new 007 film? Watching our favourite spy stamp his passport like it’s 2019.
If you think you’ve been hearing about the new Bond film, No Time to Die, for a while now, it’s because you have. After 18 months of delays, the wait is finally over. The 25th instalment in the world’s longest running film franchise hits Aussie screens today, November 11.
Slated to be the fifth and final Bond film for Daniel Craig, No Time to Die is directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. Rounding out the cast is Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ana de Armas, Ralph Fiennes, and quintessential bad guy, Christoph Waltz. The script comes with Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s (Fleabag) prints all over it – so expert a good punch of wit and humour. Locations hop from the tropics, to wind-whipped islands and 8,000 year-old-cities. So, where was the new James Bond movie No Time To Die filmed?
As many Bond buffs will know, Jamaica is the setting that started at it all. It’s where author Ian Fleming wrote 007 into existence and was the location for Dr. No, the first film in the franchise. It feels right that Bond returns to his roots in Port Antonio in search of a tranquil retirement. Between the sun-kissed sandy beaches, crystal blue waters jewelled with coral, and tropical rainforests alive with exotic birds, the crew reportedly loved shooting in island paradise.
When you think of high octane car chases, the streets of one of the world’s oldest occupied cities may seem like an unlikely choice. Nonetheless, expect Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 careening down the narrow, labyrinthine streets of Matera in South Italy. And you thought getting a council permit was a nightmare! Affectionately known as ‘Basilicata’s jewel’, Matera is an ancient stone city with caves carved into the mountainside. The heart-breakingly romantic city was dubbed the European Capital of Culture in 2019, and is also a recognised UNESCO Heritage site.
Sandwiched between Iceland and the Shetland Islands are the idyllic Faroe Islands. It’s here that crew helicopters hovered over Kalsoy, a tiny town with more sheep than people. Making the most of their brush with Bond, the village has created an Official James Bond Tour in collaboration with local farmer, Jóhannus. The experience includes a ferry trip, a hike to the Kallur lighthouse, and of course, a home-cooked lamb dinner.
Norway reportedly paid over £4.2m to secure filming contracts in their country, and we anticipate some high drama to go down in the cold and forbidding landscape. The film’s trailer hints at a standoff on the frozen Langevann Lake in Nittedal, just north of Oslo. When you’re not being stalked by supervillains, the location is perfect for perusing Picassos at Galleri Würth, skiing through plentiful fresh snow, and visiting the famous aquavit distillery Arcus.
Scotland’s raw and rugged Cairngorms National Park was chosen as a stand in for Norway’s wintry forests. Tourism makes up 80% of the economy in the arctic-alpine area and it’s easy to see why. The undulating snow-capped peaks are a skier’s dream, winding woodland tracks are perfect for trekking and deer-spotting, and at the end of the day, a dram from the local distillery is a must.
After a whirlwind worldwide trip, there’s no place like home. As Bond returns back to base, we tip our bowlers to unmistakable London landmarks like the Thames and Hammersmith Bridge. The iconic MI6 headquarters are created in Pinewood Studios on the dedicated ‘007 Stage’. Craig fittingly shot his final scenes here, marking an emotional milestone for the cast and crew.
Want to see what your next holiday is going to look like on the big screen? No Time to Die is in theatres from November 11.
